If you’re a high school student in Utah, consider joining a summer program to make the most of your break. Universities and institutions across the state offer a range of opportunities, from enrichment programs to internships and research projects, allowing you to build skills beyond the classroom.
These programs give you early exposure to advanced academics and hands-on projects, which will boost your college applications. They also showcase your personal and academic growth, demonstrating your ability to handle challenging coursework.
To get you started, here are 17 summer programs in Utah for high schoolers, covering areas like business, AI, engineering, medicine, and more!
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research.
Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
Location: Virtual
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler.
The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Duration: Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Eligibility:
- You must be currently enrolled in high school
- Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
- No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).
The University of Utah’s High School Summer Research Internship is an 8-week summer program that allows you to work on independent engineering research projects and gain experience working in labs.
In the program, you’ll learn the full research process and attend workshops on topics like research ethics and science writing. By the end of the program, you will even get to present your project at the Utah Science & Engineering Fair!
Please note that housing will not be provided for the duration of the program.
Subject Areas: Varies based on your choice but will revolve around engineering.
Location: University of Utah’s John and Marcia Price College of Engineering, Salt Lake City, UT
Program Dates: 8 weeks between June and August; TBA for 2025
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Participants do not receive any compensation.
Eligibility: All high school students can apply.
Application Deadline: The registration for 2024 is closed and will open in 2025 for the next session.
Utah Valley University’s Empowered Professionals of Tomorrow is a 7-week summer program for high school students. You can choose one of four tracks: Scientists (biotechnology, geography), Engineers & Technologists (computer science, biology), or Business Leaders (finance, entrepreneurship).
In the program, you will explore university-level rigor in classes, engage with current UVU students, and even participate in career events with guest speakers, workshops, and professionals in various fields. An added bonus is that you will also gain credits for the courses you take!
Subject Areas: Multiple Subjects
Location: Utah Valley University Main Campus, Orem, UT
Program Dates: 7 weeks from June to August (tentatively, based on previous year’s dates).
Cost/Stipend: Free for all accepted participants.
Eligibility: Utah high school students enrolled in grades 9–11 with a minimum GPA of 2.5 can apply.
Application Deadline: Not specified
Designed for high school juniors and seniors, the WSU Medical Academy gives high school students a hands-on look at careers in healthcare and medicine. You’ll engage in group discussions, lectures, and lab work and network with WSU faculty and local healthcare professionals.
The program covers topics like microbiology, chemistry, genetics, and anatomy, with guidance from WSU professors. You will also explore the benefits of a clinical career alongside local healthcare professionals and patients who have benefited from their expert care!
Subject Areas: Healthcare and medicine
Location: Weber State University, Ogden, UT
Program Dates: June 5 – June 8, 2024; TBA for 2025
Cost/Stipend: If you register before May 5, you need to pay $300 for all activities, lodging, meals, and lab supplies. After May 5, the registration costs $325.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 15 years old can apply.
Application Deadline: May 19, 2024; TBA for 2025
Utah State University’s Engineering State Summer Camp is an overnight program for high school seniors. You will apply engineering concepts to solve problems in a zombie apocalypse scenario. Your tasks will include developing solutions for shelter, clean food and water, infrastructure, and more.
You will study various engineering fields, including civil, environmental, electrical, computer, mechanical, and biological engineering. In small teams, you will create and test solutions. The camp is held on the USU Logan campus, where you will stay in dorms.
Subject Areas: Engineering
Location: Utah State University’s College of Engineering, Logan, UT
Program Dates: June 12–June 13, 2025 | June 17–June 18, 2025
Cost/Stipend:$155
Eligibility: Students entering their senior year of high school can apply.
Application Deadline: TBA for 2025
The 2D Video Gaming Camp by Weber State University is a week-long program for those who are interested in video game presentations. In the program, you will attend daily presentations and participate in hands-on exercises that are facilitated by faculty and esteemed industry professionals.
Topics that will be covered in daily sessions include career talks within the video game development field, the educational requirements, and the fundamentals of computer graphics and video game design. You will also attend hands-on workshops that will allow you to develop video games through the use of a game development tool. The program will culminate in a competition, where you will be judged on the quality of your game!
Subject Areas: Graphic Design
Location: Weber State University, Ogden, UT
Program Dates: TBA for 2025.
Cost/Stipend:$15
Eligibility: Open to all high school students.
Application Deadline: Not specified, but payment must be made by May 31.
The American Red Cross of Utah’s Leadership Development Camp focuses on building your leadership skills. It is designed for both students who have leadership skills and those who wish to hone their leadership skills, and it focuses on how to utilize your value system to help your communities in various ways.
This 3-day camp will also teach you about diversity and will help in building fundamental soft skills such as becoming personable and confident!
Subject Areas: Leadership
Location: Camp Pinecliff (particular location not specified).
Program Dates: June 23 - 27, 2025
Cost/Stipend: It costs $300 (discounted prices available; you can see if you’re eligible by looking at their application form. You can find the link here!)
Eligibility: Open to freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who are Utah and SW Wyoming residents.
Application Deadline: Not specified
Brigham Young University’s six-day Musicians Summer Fest is a summer camp for both instrumentalists and vocalists who are looking to enhance their music skills. Through the summer camp, you will delve into various musical styles and network with other musicians such as yourself!
In the camp, you will participate in ensemble rehearsals and sections, attend master classes and elective courses such as music history, and even attend concerts, recitals, dancers, and more! An added bonus is that this music camp offers courses in over 20 instruments and covers a range of genres, including classical, jazz, blues, and more.
Subject Areas: Music
Location: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
Program Dates: June 15 - June 21, 2025
Cost/Stipend: Tuition costs $509; however, there is an optional charge for food and housing, which is an additional $385.
Eligibility: 9th-12th graders, ages 14–18
Application Deadline: Placement Video Deadline - May 20, 2025. Registration Closing Date - June 2, 2025
10. Hi-GEAR Camp
Hi-Gear offers hands-on learning and team projects to expose students to various engineering and computer science careers. In the program, you’ll engage in problem-solving activities, hear from guest speakers, and tour lab spaces.
You will also gain expertise in engineering disciplines such as biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, entertainment arts, materials science, mechanical engineering, and computer science.
Subject Areas: Engineering and Computer Science
Location: Marcia Price College of Engineering, University of Utah Campus, Salt Lake City, UT
Program Dates: June 24 - June 28, 2024; Dates for 2025 TBA
Cost/Stipend: The program costs $150 ($30/day), which includes a camp T-shirt and lunch daily.
Eligibility: Open to all high schoolers between the ages of 15 and 18.
Application Deadline: Not specified.
The WUS Medical Academy is a 3-day summer camp by the Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke Family Pre-Medical Professional Program and the WSU American Medical Student Association. The program attempts to familiarize you with the various career paths in the healthcare industry so you can decide if a future in this industry is right.
Throughout the 3-days, you will attend discussions and panels with WSU faculty and even participate in hands-on laboratory activities. You will also cover fundamental topics in fields such as microbiology, organic chemistry, anatomy, and more!
Subject Areas: Medicine
Location: Weber State University, Ogden, UT
Program Dates: June 5 - June 8, 2024; 2025 Dates TBA
Cost/Stipend: The program costs $300 but will increase to $325 after May 5.
Eligibility: Open to all high school juniors and seniors
Application Deadline: May 19, 2024; 2025 application deadline TBA
Upward Bound at Utah Tech is an opportunity for students to receive college counseling and admission assistance by Utah Tech. Targeted at first-generation and low-income individuals, this program will provide academic, personal, and career counseling, along with assistance with the college process, from selection to financial aid.
Apart from the mentorship opportunities, you will even get to tour colleges in Utah & Nevada and participate in activities for both cultural and social enrichment!
A unique aspect of this program is the 6-week summer program for students who excel academically. In this summer program, you will take 2-3 college credit courses in various fields such as English, math, astronomy, or first aid (among others). You will also have the opportunity to participate in community service projects, be involved in committees, and even go on a final trip!
Subject Areas: Not Applicable
Location: Utah Tech University, St.George, UT
Program Dates: Year-round for the first part of the program and 6 weeks in the summer for the college credit summer program.
Cost/Stipend: No Cost.
Eligibility: Open to students who are either first-generation college students, those considered low-income (defined by Federal Guidelines), or those in need of academic support. You must have completed 8th grade but not have entered 12th grade, and you must be either a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
Application Deadline: Not Specified
If you are ready to jump into entrepreneurship, this camp is for you! Brigham Young University’s Young Entrepreneurs Program is a week-long camp that introduces high school students to entrepreneurship. Through workshops and lectures, you'll learn key skills such as idea development, pitching, marketing, and customer identification. The program includes networking with founders, creating a business plan, and a pitch competition.
Subject Areas: Entrepreneurship
Location: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
Program Dates: June 24–June 29, 2024. Will not run in 2025, but dates for 2026 are TBA
Cost/Stipend:$549 for the tuition fees and an additional (optional) $289 for food and housing
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12 can apply.
Application Deadline: Registration for 2024 is closed; TBA for 2025
The Upward Bound Summer Program by South Utah University is a six-week summer program where you will attend classes from 8:00 - 12:30, volunteer at local businesses, and attend sessions with guest speakers to gain insight into potential career paths.
After attending classes in the morning, you will have the opportunity to volunteer at local businesses for up to 2 hours to gain real-world experience. Moreover, academic support is provided by academic tutors. An added bonus is that you can earn university credits after successfully completing the courses!
For the final week, you will explore a big city, such as Los Angeles, San Diego, or Santa Barbara, to explore the educational and cultural aspects of the city. You will also tour local colleges and other important attractions.
Subject Areas: Varied Fields
Location: Southern Utah University, Cedar City, UT
Program Dates: Dates for 2025 are TBA, but expect it to be 6 weeks during the summer months, typically beginning in June.
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Eligibility: Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
Application Deadline: Not specified; applications open now.
In Wasatch Academy’s Summer Programs, you will explore their four- or two-week summer programs in various fields, ranging from Robotics to Multimedia Creation. You will attend classes on the 35-acre campus, be guided by faculty during courses, and participate in recreational activities during your free time!
A unique aspect of this summer program is the ELL Immersion Experience, which is tailored for international students to practice English with Native speakers and explore American culture!
Subject Areas: Varied Fields
Location: Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, UT
Program Dates: July 6 - August 2, 2025 (4-week program) | July 6 - July 19, 2025 or July 20 - August 2, 2025 (2-week program)
Cost/Stipend: $7,500 (4-week program) or $3,900 (2-week program)
Eligibility: Open to students between the ages of 11 and 15.
Application Deadline: Not specified
The Girl Power Code Camp by Weber State University is designed for those who want to gain some experience in coding. During the 4-day program, you will cover core concepts in coding, electronics, and programming.
Apart from the course industry, you will also familiarize yourself with fundamental coding concepts through hands-on activities and even develop your own project using Arduino!
Subject Areas: Computer Science
Location: Weber State University, Ogden, UT
Program Dates: June 10 - June 13, 2024; 2025 dates TBA
Cost/Stipend: No cost
Eligibility: Open to students between the ages of 12 and 14.
Application Deadline: Not specified
Code Adventure offers a 3-day summer camp for beginners, where you will familiarize yourself with coding and technology through both hands-on and engaging activities. You will cover courses in fields such as software engineering, data analytics, cyber security ,and more!
Apart from the course instruction, you will also attend sessions by guest speakers who will talk about their experience in tech.
Subject Areas: Computer Science
Location: Adobe Lehi Office, Lehi, UT
Program Dates: June 13 - June 15, 2024; 2025 dates TBA
Cost/Stipend: No cost
Eligibility: Open to students between the ages of 13 and 18.
Application Deadline: Not specified
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.